Catching features

Or how to stop overshooting

Catching features prevent overshooting. Once you've identified one or more of these handy features, you can put the map away and move quickly with confidence...

The way catching features prevent overshooting a control (or attack point) is best shown by an example. Pictured is part of the Light Green course at a QOFL at Kings Cliff. The earthbanks are catching features.

One possibility for finding control no 2 is to run towards the corner formed by the banks until you meet one of them, then follow it into the corner where the control should be found. The stream and the forest road are also catching features. If you reach either before the control then you have gone slightly too far, go back a short way and find it.

Identifying catching features can speed you up. No need to count paces or tick off landmarks if there is no chance of overshooting the control.

So put the map away and move quickly with confidence.

Richard Sansbury

Skilling Up- Hints and Tips for Improvement #11, from QuOnicle 156, July 2014